Cheers and Beers 🍻

For once in a while, at the end of the month, we go out as team after shift to have fun and unwind. Just a breath of fresh air, free from worrying with all the metrics that's needed to comply in a monthly basis. It's not a regular thing, and if we did, we'll go there at the back of our company building where there's a block which most of the stores are Resto Bar and they are open for 24/7.

At first, I often decline since I don't like drinking beers and that is the only drink they have if it's already dawn. I wanna tag along since I like their company, our team is fun to be with. It's just that I don't like the drink and they're also singing in the Karaoke which I'm not fond of doing because I don't like singing in public.

After a few invitations, I gave in and went with them. I decided to try a bottle of beer and see if I would learn to like it this time. This isn't my first time drinking this actually. When I was a teenager, I've tried a shot and I almost puke from the smell and the taste. I really wonder why is this the favorite drink of those Uncles and Aunties, and those people I know who don't like the hard drinks.

The second time that I tried it was with my cousin during the Festival here a couple of years ago. Since we wanted to roam around the venue, we didn't drink that much. Instead, we bought a can of Light Beer and drink that while watching the live band playing on the stage. On my last sip, I almost puke because I can already feel the acid build up from the foam and I think I unexpectedly caught the smell there. You surely can't force yourself on something that you're not accustomed to.

Photo by vedanti

From that experience, I didn't dare to try again. Yep.... not until this day, though.

In a bucket, there's 6 bottles dripping with icy mist and ice cubes placed on another bowl. On my the first sip, I keep my nose closed so I couldn't smell it. They said, it's the trick there and you'll enjoy it more if you wouldn't inhale the strong aroma of the drink. So, it's just like eating durian then, ehhhh?

Surprisingly, it turns out fine at the time since I only drink a bottle. I needed to make a sudden trip back home because of some important matters, so that's why I drink some more and left. The next month, we're at it again and drink a few. There's no other schedule or classes anyway at the time.

In the first bottle, it's like water. On the second one, I have a surge of energy and a little bit tipsy. On the third bottle, that's where the fun begins!

There's a first time in everything, and surely, on that moment, it was my first time being drunk from drinking beer. My knees were numb, my acid reflux built up, and my head was spinning but very drowsy at the same time since we're just out from the shift. Almost every five minutes, I tried my best to keep my sanity, for me to go to the bathroom properly and let it all out.

It's a fun and memorable experience until it became a disaster. Gladly, my colleagues were kind enough to accompany me until the Patata arrives at the Resto to pick me up. I learned a lesson in a hard way —drink what you can handle. Drink moderately, it is! And, most of all, I'll pass now from then on, never again.